Brooder.



. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905'. A. F. MESBRVB.

BROODER.

APPLICATION FILED 15110.4, 1903.

2 SHBETB-SHEET 1.

Wibnmao No. 784,954. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

. A. F. MESERVE.

BROODER. APPLICATION FILED 13130.4, 1903.

2 SHBETS-SHEBT 2.

Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASHBEL F. MESERVE, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

BROODER.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 784,954, dated March 14,1905. Application filed December 4, 1903. Serial No. 183,768.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASHBEL F. Mnsnnvn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion, State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brooders; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to breeders; and it has for its object to providea construction wherein will be provided a maximum floorspace and inwhich the hover-room may be kept at a higher temperature thanthe'feeding or exercising room, so that chilling of the chicks will beprevented and the proper temperature of the hover-room may be maintainedeven when the outer door is left open to permit of ingress and egress ofthe chicks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention have relation to detailsof structure and benefits incident thereto and will be understood fromthe following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, 1n which llkenumerals of refer- 4 ence indicate similar parts in the several views,

Figure l is a vertical section taken longitudinally through a brooderembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section throughthe brooder in a plane below the top of the heater. Fig. 3 is atransverse section through the scratching-room with the skylight raised.Fig. 4 is a horizontal'section through the lamp-box in a plane above thewater-jacket of the lamp-font.

Referring now to the drawings, the present brooder comprises a casingincluding a bottom 5. sides 6, and ends 7,-the easing being supportedupon legs 8 at the corners and center thereof and of such length as tosupport the brooder at the desired height from the ground, so that thebrooder may be kept dry and a space will be provided under it, so thatthe brooder will form a shelter from sun and rain. Transversely withinthe casing and at a point somewhat nearer to one end than the otherthere is a vertical partition 9, which divides the easing into ahover-room 10 and a scratching or feeding room 11, this partitionextending from the top of the casing downwardly to a point substantiallymidway between the floor and roof. A curtain 12 extends from the loweredge of the partition 9 close to the floor of thecasing and permits of.a comparatively small amount of heat passing to the room 11 and at thesame time prevents drafts from entering forcibly into the room 10. Abovethe bottom 5 in each room is an upper floor-section, (shown at 1st and15, respectively.) which is supported upon the transverse pieces 13, sothat air-spaces 16 and 17 are formed. In addition to the curtain 12there is provided a door 18 of the same width as the partition anddisposed to slide between the partition and the guidepieces 21, thisdoor being adapted to close, to a greater or lesser degree, the spacebeneath the partition and being held at different points of its slidingmovement by means of a pin 47, which is engaged through the doorreinovably and is adapted for engagement with the perforations 47 in thepartition interchangeably. A supplemental door 19 is formed in the door18 and has a closure 18, which slides laterally thereof to vary the sizeof the opening as desired, this supplemental door being for use in verycold weather and at night.

Above and parallel with the floor-section 14 and within the chamber orroom 10 is a removable ceiling-plate 22, which forms a support for thehover and in connection with theroof 23 forms a loft 2A. Through thefloor 1A and bottom 5 at the center of the room 10 are formed aliningopenings 25, and upon the floor 14: is secured a heating-drum 25 ofslightly greater diameter than the openings 25, so that the drum setsoutwardly beyond the edge of the opening in the floor 1%. The drum isfastened to the floor 14: and is removable with it and is provided withajacket consisting of a layer 26 of asbestos and an outer layer orcovering 26 of wool, so that heat in sufficient quantity may pass to theroom 10, and the chicks will not be burned if they come in contact withthe drum. The

drum is provided with a chimney 29, also covered with asbestos 29, thechimney extending upwardly through the ceiling-plate 22 and roof 23 andhaving a cap 30. at its upper end,

having a knob 31 to facilitate removal for inspection of the lamp-flame.

Depending from the bottom 5 of the casing is a box 32, having a slidingbottom 33, provided with cleats 34, between which is received the fontof a lamp 35, having a waterjacket 36, with a perforated top 87 topermit of inlet of water and outletof air. Openings 40 are formed in theburner-head below the gallery for exit of gas from oil before it reachesthe upper portion of the burner-head, and a metal chimney 34 is disposedin the gallery and projects into the drum to deliver heat thereto.

Depending from the ceiling-plate?! are four woolen curtains ofcylindrical shape and of different diameters encircling and concentriowith the drum 25 and which form the hover. Ventilating-openings 27through the ceiling-plate carry the foul air to the loft 24, from whichit escapes through the openings 28 under the roof.

A. door etl is provided for the lan'ip-holder, which when opened allowsof removal of the bottom 33.

In the roof 23 is an opening which alines with an opening in the plate22, as shown at 68 and 69, and through these openings is passed athermometer (38, which fits the roof water-tight by 111021115 of anencircling cork or plug 61, engaged in the opening in the roof, thethermon'ieter being removable to permit of reading of it without openingup the brooder. The room 11 has a roof e3, the middle third of which isformed by a skylight (Sat, which may be opened and closed, so that theroom may be ventilated. The roof is furthermore removable and is held inplace by means of hooks &6, a wire screen 47 being disposed just belowthe roof, so that when the roof is removed,

which may be done when desired, the chicks will be protected. Both roofshave metal coverings to make them rain-proof, and the roof of the room10 is likewise removable, being held in place by hooks 4:6. Through thewalls of the room are ventilating-openings 52, which are covered attheir inner ends by the plates 53, which are spaced slightly inwardlyfrom the walls, so that the air entering the perforatioi'is will bedeflected and drafts such as might injure the chicks will be prevented.Slides 54: are mounted upon the outer faces of the walls for movementinto position over the openings to close them. A window 48 permits ofentrance of light to the hover-room 10 and has a closure 48, the windowhaving a covering 49 of screening. A canvas flap 50 is attached to theouter wall of the room in position to cover the window. At the end ofeach of the rooms is a door-opening 50, having a closure 51, whichslides in cleats 51 into and out of closing position.

ln the room 11 is a drinking-font 59, consisting of a block upon whichrests a shallow pan 62 and a small bucket with bail 60, said bucketbeing clamped to the pan by means of wire clamps 61, which permit of theentire structure being carried by the bail. The water flows graduallyfrom the can or bucket to the pan through V-shaped openings at thebottom of the latter.

in each corner of the room 10 is a supplemental wall 69, and in thecorners of the room 11, at one end thereof, are the grit and charcoalboxes and 71. Leading to the door at one or both ends of the brooder isa runway 56 or gang-plank to facilitate ingress and egress of thechicks.

hat is claimed is- 1. A brooder comprising a casing having a transversepartition in its upper portion and an opening therebelow. a curtaindepending from said partition and closing said opening, a door for saidopening having a smaller opening therethrough, the casing at one side ofsaid partition having heating means therein.

2. A brooder comprising a casing having a transverse partition andresultant separate rooms, a heater disposed in the room at one side ofthe partition, said last-named room having a ceiling and a roof havingan airchamber therebetween having ventilatingopenings through its sidewalls, curtains suspended from the ceiling and surrounding the heater inspaced relation therefrom and from each other, said ceiling havingventilationopenings therethrough within the inclosure of the outercurtain, and said ceiling having other ventilation-openings exterior tothe curtains.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASHBEL F. MESERVE. \Vitnesses:

HARVEY C. ADAus, OLIVER M. Jones.

